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Chai Diaries Blooming Tea

Chai Diaries Blooming Tea

Blooming, or Flowering tea, can be described as a bundle of dried tea leaves (usually green or white tea) wrapped around one or more edible flowers. Once the tea leaves are bound together, the ball is set aside to dry or bake for 20 - 30 minutes on low heat. Some sources also add an oxidation and firing process after the balls have been dried. Once all processing is complete and the tea balls are ready to steep! A single ball is placed in a hot pot of water and the blooming process begins. The end result is a fully blossomed flower and a pot full of tea.

It has been said these luxury tea balls are created in remote tea gardens in the Yunnan province of China. However, it is unclear when and where this method of tea was first created.